Hip flexor muscles connect the thigh muscles to the hipbones, allowing you to perform a variety of movements. The hip flexor muscles work in conjunction with each other, and with different muscles found in the thighs and buttocks area, to enable a full range of motion, balance and stability. Consult your doctor if you have any pain in your hip area and before attempting to self-treat any injury with stretching or exercise.
Hip Flexor Muscles
The hip flexor muscles are actually a group of muscles, the Sports Injury Info website explains, that includes the rectus femoris, which extends from the lower anterior, or front rim, of the pelvic girdle down to the knee joint; the psoas major, which connects the lower lumbar portion of the spine to the interior head of the upper femur, or thighbone; and the iliacus, a large muscle that connects the upper portion of the hipbone, or crest, to the upper head of the femur.
Function
The rectus femoris, the psoas major and the iliacus work together to enable you to lift your leg, rotate the hip joint and walk. Injuries to any of these muscles may cause difficulty walking or limit your range of motion and ability to bear weight. Injuries may also cause an imbalance in the way you stand, create a limp as you walk, and make it very difficult to lift your leg or rotate your pelvic girdle. Your hip flexor muscles ensure the stability of your trunk and enable proper alignment of your spinal column. Poor or weak muscle function may have a negative impact on your posture and lead to chronic episodes of pain caused by such an imbalance, the Sports Injury Clinic website notes.
Imbalances
Hip muscle imbalances can severely affect your range of motion, which in turn may place even greater strain on hip joints. For example, if you favor your right leg when walking, your left leg is required to pick up the slack, works harder and may fatigue more easily. This continual demand for muscle strength, balance and support on one side of the body may not only affect the hip joint, but the knee joint and the alignment of your spine. Imbalances in the hip flexor muscles inhibit your ability to function and may interfere with the function of surrounding support structures as well as support muscles. For example, you may only be able to place weight on the weak leg or hip for between 30 and 60 seconds before you notice your leg shakes. This is a sign of a hip flexor muscle imbalance.
Treatment
Static stretches help to strengthen and lengthen the hip flexor muscle group, strength and fitness coach Shin Ohtake suggests on his MAX Workouts website. One example of a static stretch is the lunge. When lunging, keep your back straight and don't let your forward knee extend beyond the toes of your forward foot. You may stretch with the rear knee placed on the floor, or balance on your right foot.
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